U.S. Launches Comprehensive Review of Tanzania Relations Amid Election Violence and Rights Concerns

WASHINGTON — The United States announced Wednesday it is conducting a comprehensive review of its bilateral relationship with Tanzania, citing serious concerns over human rights violations, investment barriers, and violence surrounding the East African nation’s October elections.

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In a strongly worded statement, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Thomas “Tommy” Pigott warned that recent actions by the Tanzanian government have called into question the reliability of Tanzania as a partner and threatened decades of cooperation between the two nations.

“The United States values its longstanding partnership with the people of Tanzania, which has brought prosperity to our populations and security to the region,” Pigott said. “Recent actions by the Government of Tanzania, however, raise grave concerns about the direction of our bilateral relationship and the reliability of the Tanzanian Government as a partner.”

The announcement represents one of the most serious diplomatic warnings issued by Washington regarding its relationship with Tanzania in recent years and signals potential shifts in U.S. policy toward the country.

Catalyst for Review

The State Department cited multiple factors driving the reassessment, including ongoing suppression of religious freedom and free speech, persistent obstacles to American investment, and what officials described as disturbing violence against civilians before and after Tanzania’s October 29 elections.

United Nations human rights experts have estimated that hundreds of people were killed and hundreds more detained following the contested vote. A recent CNN investigation documented instances of police and armed personnel fatally shooting unarmed protesters.

“These actions have put American citizens, tourists, and U.S. interests in Tanzania at risk, and threatened to undermine the mutual prosperity and security that have defined our partnership for decades,” Pigott stated.

Following the elections, youth-led protests erupted across Tanzania against the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi party. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has accused demonstrators of being paid to overthrow her government. While Hassan acknowledged some casualties occurred, her government has not released official figures.

Conditions for Future Relations

The State Department emphasized that the future trajectory of U.S.-Tanzania relations will depend entirely on actions taken by the Tanzanian government.

“The United States cannot overlook actions that jeopardize the safety of our citizens, or the security and stability of the region,” Pigott said. “The future of our bilateral relationship with the Government of Tanzania will be based on its actions.”

The review could potentially result in targeted sanctions, suspension of military cooperation, reductions in development assistance, or visa restrictions on senior Tanzanian officials. The United States currently serves as Tanzania’s largest bilateral donor, providing over $600 million annually in health, education, and security programs.

International Response

The U.S. announcement follows mounting international criticism of Tanzania’s handling of the post-election period. Last week, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the excessive use of force by Tanzanian security forces that resulted in civilian deaths during post-election clashes.

Amnesty International has accused authorities of orchestrating a campaign of terror against opposition supporters, documenting cases of abductions, torture, and extrajudicial killings.

The controversy has extended to social media platforms, with Meta confirming it disabled or restricted accounts of two Tanzanian activists who posted videos of post-election violence. The company said it locked Maria Sarungi-Tsehai’s Instagram account following a legal order from the Tanzanian government and banned Mange Kimambi from Instagram and WhatsApp for rule violations.

Both activists disputed the decisions, with Kimambi suggesting the actions appeared to be attempts to silence voices advocating for Tanzanian citizens under government pressure.

Economic Implications

The deteriorating political situation threatens to impact investment and ongoing projects in Tanzania, including major natural gas developments. The persistent barriers to U.S. investment cited by the State Department have become an increasing source of friction between the two governments.

The Tanzanian government has not yet issued a formal response to the U.S. announcement.

The comprehensive review marks a critical juncture in relations between Washington and Dar es Salaam, with the potential to fundamentally reshape a partnership that has spanned decades.

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